Questions for Discussion 1. Why is Frannie taught to read? What makes reading such a powerful skill that it was denied to slaves? Why does Phibbah, a slave like Frannie, plead with Miss-bella not to teach Frannie? How does the ability to read change her? 2. Consider all the literary allusions throughout the book. What does each work bring to the novel? In what ways might Voltaire’s Candide or Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein be particularly relevant? Why do you think Moll Flanders is so important to Frannie? 3. How does Frannie navigate and survive the brutal, oppressive ignorance of slavery? What are the particularly important decisions she is forced to make? How does she bear the extreme anger and grief that result from such oppression? 4. What explains the base and sadistic drive and methods of John Langton? What ethical limits to scientific inquiry does he ignore? 5. Despite mistreatment and manipulation, Frannie admits that “there was love as well as hate” for Miss-bella. What do you